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Managing sleep and wakefulness in a 24 hour world

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:53 authored by Catherine M Coveney
This article contributes to literature on the sociology of sleep by exploring the sleeping practices and subjective sleep experiences of two social groups: shift workers and students. It draws on data, collected in the UK from 25 semi-structured interviews, to discuss the complex ways in which working patterns and social activities impact upon experiences and expectations of sleep in our wired awake world. The data show that, typically, sleep is valued and considered to be important for health, general wellbeing, appearance and physical and cognitive functioning. However, sleep time is often cut back on in favour of work demands and social activities. While shift workers described their efforts to fit in an adequate amount of sleep per 24-hour period, for students, the adoption of a flexible sleep routine was thought to be favourable for maintaining a work–social life balance. Collectively, respondents reported using a wide range of strategies, techniques, technologies and practices to encourage, overcome or delay sleep(iness) and boost, promote or enhance wakefulness/alertness at socially desirable times. The analysis demonstrates how social context impacts not only on how we come to think about sleep and understand it, but also how we manage or self-regulate our sleeping patterns.

Funding

Awakening Expectations? Exploring the social and ethical issues around the use of sleep drugs in the UK; WT080528MA; The Wellcome Trust

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Sociology of Health and Illness

ISSN

0141-9889

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

1

Volume

36

Page range

123-136

Department affiliated with

  • International Relations Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-07-21

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-07-21

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-07-21

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